J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

The first and largest drawing made on this page is of Ben A’an, as seen from the landing near Coir nan Uriskin across Loch Katrine to the south. Part of the foot of Ben Venue rises up at the left of the sketch, and beyond we look across the loch to the north shore with the profile of Ben A’an. In front of the mountain is Ellen’s Island (Eilean Molach). There are a number of similar views on folios 43–44 verso (D26521–D26523). For further information about Turner’s visit to and sketches of Loch Katrine see folio 47 (D26528).

Surrounding the sketch of Loch Katrine are five small sketches of Aros Castle on the Isle of Mull, as seen from a boat on the Sound of Mull. Although he made sketches of this small ruin in the Sound of Mull No.1 sketchbook (Tate D26954; Turner Bequest CCLXXIV 10a) and the Staffa sketchbook (Tate D26839; Turner Bequest CCLXXII 50a), it is surprising to see further sketches here, as Turner did not otherwise use this sketchbook during his journeys to and from the island of Mull. He did, however, pass the castle on at least two occasions so he had opportunities to make sketches in several books. Along the fore-edge of the page, drawn with the book inverted, is a sketch of the castle from the south inscribed ‘arros’. With the sketchbook turned to the left from this sketch, across the head of the page and down the top right-hand side, are four further sketches of the castle from the south and south-east. This suggests that Turner made the sketches as he travelled north up the Sound of Mull and therefore during his outward journey to the Isle of Skye. There are further quick studies on folios 43, 47 verso and 86 (D26520, D26529, D26605).